West Palm Beach Workers’ Compensation Lawyer
There are nearly three million reported workplace injuries and illnesses annually. That equates to 3.2 injuries and illnesses out of every 100 full-time workers nationwide. What these numbers do not show is the slow, difficult journey back to health that many of these people suffer through. In fact, a large number of injured or severely ill workers face financial difficulties after their accident. Contact our aggressive West Palm Beach workers’ compensation lawyer for more information.
Surprisingly, businesses typically only pay 21 percent of the cost of workplace injuries, leaving 16 percent to taxpayers and an astounding 50 percent of the cost to the injured workers themselves. If you have been injured on the job, how are you supposed to cover the large medical bills that are necessary to get you healthy again, not to mention your mortgage, car payments, and groceries on top of it all? This unjust system is due, in part, to large changes in workers’ compensation laws that took place back in 2003. Many states have opted to reduce workers’ compensation and by doing so, decrease the responsibility that employers have for their employees. Unfortunately, Florida is included in these states. Since 1994, Florida has cut workers’ compensation benefits by 65 percent. Sadly, many people are never able to return to full health after a crippling workplace injury, due to the nature of the injury or because they weren’t given the health care they deserved.
Our successful West Palm Beach workers’ compensation lawyers at The Pendas Law Firm have a proven history of success going up against large insurance companies and unjust employers. Our lawyers will help you pursue the benefits you deserve.
West Palm Beach Workers’ Compensation
All employers who have four or more employees working for them have to provide no-fault workers’ compensation. No-fault means that negligence or fault is never considered when it comes to making a claim. This has not stopped some employers from claiming the injury was faked, that it was a preexisting condition, or that it happened outside of the work place while the employee was off the job.
Workers’ Compensation Benefits
If you have had a workplace accident, the amount and type of compensation you receive is dependent on the severity of your injury or illness. Medical and disability benefits should typically be two-thirds of your weekly paycheck, although this depends on the circumstances. Other types of benefits include:
- Permanent disability benefits;
- Disability income benefits;
- Disability income benefits;
- Supplemental benefits;
- Permanent total benefits; and
- Death benefits, if a death resulted from the workplace accident.
Filing a Claim
You have 30 days to report an injury to your employer. Your employer must report the accident to the insurance company within that next week. Furthermore, you have up to two years to file a workers’ compensation claim in Florida; as such, it is important that you speak to an lawyer immediately.
Contact a West Palm Beach Workers’ Compensation Lawyer
If you or a loved one was injured on the job, contact one of our West Palm Beach workers’ compensation lawyers today to discuss your legal options. You are entitled to damages that will help you recover from your injury or illness and we will explore every avenue to get you the financial benefits you need and deserve. Reach out to the Pendas Law Firm for help.
